Storm update from Mayor Finch:
The City has four shelters open at this time–Luis Muñoz Marin School, Jettie Tisdale School, Geraldine Johnson School and Cesar Batalla School, Approximately 600 people are taking advantage of the shelters. Pets are allowed, and currently there are about 20 dogs and 5 cats are sheltering with their owners.
Garbage and recycling pickup is suspended for Tuesday; the Transfer Station is closed until further notice
Bridgeport Schools will be closed on Monday and Tuesday. All second shift personnel must report to work for the 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. shift on those days.
City Hall and the Margaret E. Morton Government Center will be closed on Tuesday. All non-essential City personnel should not report to work.
United Illuminating de-energized the New Congress and Pequonnock substations early this evening. Approximately, 47,000 households are served by the substations and it is expected that residents will be without power for an extended period of time. UI officials made the decision to shut the substation due to the catastrophic flood levels caused by the extremely high tides expected when the storm hits the Bridgeport area this evening.
Governor Malloy announced that he has sent an additional 20 state troopers and more than 100 National Guard troops to Bridgeport to augment the already robust police presence in the City.
If you need to evacuate to a shelter, following is a list of items to bring:
Food–Non-perishable, needing little or no cooking, such as ready-to-eat meats, fruits, vegetables, and canned juices. High energy foods such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, and other snack foods. Special dietary foods–such as diabetic, low salt, liquid diet, and baby food and formula. Manual can opener. Eating and drinking utensils including paper plates.
Clothing and bedding:
One complete change of clothing including footwear. Sleeping bag, blanket and pillow (cots for elderly) Rain gear and sturdy shoes
Personal items:
Washcloth, small towel, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary napkins, tampons, paper towels, toilet paper, towelettes, etc
Medications, first-aid supplies:
Medications–clearly marked with your name, dosage, type of medication, and prescribing physician. You must be able to take all medications by yourself.
Baby supplies:
Clothes, diapers, formula, bottles, nipples, food, blankets.
Important papers:
Name and address of doctors. Name and address of nearest relative not living in area. Identification and valuable papers.
Miscellaneous:
Games, cards, toys, battery powered radios, flashlights (no candles or lanterns), batteries, or other reasonable items you may need. Take a bath and eat before you leave home.
During a power outage, Fire Chief Brian Rooney asks residents to practice caution:
Be prepared with working flashlights, and an extra supply of batteries in your home
Never touch downed power lines. It is safe to assume that all fallen lines are live electric wires. If you see a downed power line, report it immediately to the Emergency Operations Center at 203.579.3829, or call United Illuminating at 1-800.722.5584.
Do not operate generators indoors–be sure they are outside far enough away from doors or windows so exhaust does not get sucked back into the house
Do not use gas stoves to provide heat
Do not operate grills indoors
For storm-related incidents call the Emergency Operations Center at 203.579.3829
To report a power outage call 1-800-7-CALLUI.
For emergencies call 911
